Protective covering for pneumatic tires.



A. H. SHOEMAKER.

PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES. APPLICATION FILED- MAR. 7,1911.

L@l4,6l 3, Patented Jan. 9,1912.

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rarnnr orsicn ALVIN H. SHOEMAKER, or

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS. WASHINGTON, AND THREE-EIGHTHS snn'rrnn, w orens-arenas so near H. .voncnnn, or sniirrnn,

ASH INGTON. ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND '20 JOHN W. HUBLEYY. AND ONE-HALF TOHENRY COPENHAGEN, BOTH F PORTLAND, OREGON.

PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jamaieia- Application filed'March 7, 1911. Serial No. 612961.

T '0 all Q0 from. i 6 may concern MAKER, a citizen oithe United States,re-

siding at Seattle, in the county of King and State of lV-ashington, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Protective Coverings forPneumatic Tires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumatic tires, and particularly tosuperposed renewable treads therefor.

The object of the invention is the provision of a device of simple andrelatively inexpensive construction that can be readily applied to atire and which will maintain itself in operative position under allconditions of normal use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tire covering of suchflexibility that it will constantly assume under service 0011- ditionsthe form and ambunt of distortion of the tire upon which used thereforeplacing the latter under avoiding any liability of damage to the tire.

It has the further object of providing a tire protector that is noteasily penetrated by sharp articles and which increases the tractivequalities of the tire.

With these and other objects in view, the invention .consists in thenovel construction and arrangement of radially disposed segmentalelements and the, adaptation and combination therewith of devices forresiliently securing the same together in annular formand affordingmeans for reliably securing the same to an inflated pneumatic tire. 1

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevationalviewof a pneumatic tire with a tire protector embodying my invention,shown partly in section, applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a cross sectionalview of the same. Fig. 3 is a PQISPQG tive View of one of the elementsof the protective covering. Fig. '4: is a detail fraginentary view ofthe crimped anchor wires and illustrating a preferred curing the ends ofsame.

The tire protective covering of my invention comprises a plurality ofsimilarly formed elements 1 having parallel plane sides 2, substantiallyvertical ends 3, and upper and lower edges 4: and 5, respectively,

n'o undue restraint andv method of se;

curving in a similar direction, The latter is preferably shaped toconform to the cur-- vature of an inflated pneumatic tire, while theouter surface may be curved ,to any suita le degree. Said elements maybe formed of any suitable composition, as o rubberized fabric, orleather, having stability of texture and flexibility and are as sembledin side by side relation in the form of an annulus with an interiordiameter approximately equal to the extreme diametcr of the tire withwhich designed to be used. The respective ends 3 of the element are inalinement and are joined together at each side by a body 6 of plasticrubber, or the like, in which is embedded anchor wires 8. Said wire iscrimped in uniform undulations to afford a degree of longitudinalelasticity and desirably extend peripherally about the covering two ormore times. simple and effective manner of securing the ends of saidwires is illustrated in Fig. 4c and consists in overlapping therespective ends-9 thereof and forming in each such end, a looped bend 10about the adjacent turn 11 of the wireand disposed in opposed crossedrelation so that when additionalstrains are imposed upon said wire, saidends will in terfereand jam into closer contact and more merit thegreater the strains thereon.

Besirably about each of the lateral edges of said annulus is arranged arelatively narrow strip 12 of adhesive fabric, commonly called frictioncloth which has been envelope said iplastic body 6 with which it ispressed in :intimate contact and extends for. a distance above and belowsaid annulus toward the medial portion of same. 13 is a covering ofidhesive fa ric extending entirely about the annulus and includingwithin itself the entire described structure to which it is causedtoadherev As before stated, the elements forming the annulus may becomposed of rubberized fabric and in such and analogous cases thevarious applications of rubber thereto may be set and permanentlysecured in their proposedoperative condition through vulcanization.Where vulcanizing heat may adversely affect the durability of theconstitulent elements, as may be, the case whenc efficiently secure saidends from disengage-4 treated with a rubber solution, Said strip- 4 sribeddoes not bind leather or equivalent I v the latter is material 'isemployed, a self hardening rubber, cement or the like, maybe utilizedboth in the plastic embedding body and in the treatment of theenveloping 'fabric.

' To mount protective covering upon a tire, first deflated whereuponsaid covering may be symmetrically arranged about t e perimeter thereof.As the tire is inflated'a pressure in radial directions is imparted upontheannulus which alfords sufficient friction toretain the latter againstindependent rotary movements. The in- -f 'wardly curving confi urationof the contacting edge 5 of sai elements causes the annulus toconstantly assume a medial position upon said tire and the-inore or lessinextensible character of the lateral edges 3 thereof due to thesecurement given by the said anchor wires prevents any dislocation inlateral directions.

I deem the provision ofthe undulating anchor wires secured to theindividual elements through a resilient adhering body as one of theprincipal inventive features of my new construction. Thus considerablepliancy and extensibility reside in the structures of these members dueto their unwith suflicient pressureto distort the same ,from the normalcurvature intended for it and consequently does not cause said tire toextend laterally under the peripheral compression. caused by aninextensible band movements,

thereabout. Consequently, the life of the tire is increased by avoidingtendencies of rim cutting and the annulus will retain itself in its saidmedial position under all normal conditions owing to themaximumcontemplated in the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1 In a protective covering for, pneumatic tires, the combination with atire, of a plurality of elements in side-by-side relation forming anannulus-about the perimeter of said tire and capable of independentradial a body of elastic material secured to the lateral edges of saidelements, and undulating anchor wires embedded in said body upon eachside of said elements about the perimeter of said annulus.

2. In a protective covering for pneumatic tires, the combination with atire, of a plurality of elements in side by-side relations forming anannulus about the perimeter of said tire and capable of independentradial movements, of a body of elastic material secured to the lateraledges of said elements, anchor wires embedded in said body upon eachside of said elements about the perimeter of said annulus, and aflexible covering for said elements and securing means.

Signed at Portland, Oregon, this 13 day of February 1911.

ALVIN H. 'SHOEMAKER.

Witnessesz' W. A. BURKE, CARL H'. YOECKEL.

the annulus will be am-'

